Perambulator



y 1953 c. COLLINS ETAL PERAMBULATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2, 1951 5 M q r 4 L w MV r um Jaw. fir o i 0 J. z A

July M, 1953 c. COLLINS EI'AL 2,645,502

PERAMBULATOR Filed March 2, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 H Tra RNE I,

July 14, 19 3 c. COLLINS EI'AL PERAMBULATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 2, 1951 I/Ynm/ra Rs,

Patented July 14-, 1953 LMS SQZ OFFICE PERAMBULATOR Charles Collins and Dorothy J. Collins,

Fort Credit, Ontario, Canada Application March 2, 1951, Serial No. 213,556

Claims.

The invention relates to perainbulators, as described in the present specification and shown in the accompanying drawings that form a part of the same.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a perambulator composed of separable sections which can be readily disassembled for compactness in transportation and storage purposes and which can be reassembled quickly and without the use of tools.

Another important object of the invention is to provide for independent springing of the body ;at each of its four corners.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a perambulator embodying simple means for =cradling the body or carrier against rocking or swaying without the use of locks, catches or other fastening means, thus making possible the ready removal of the carrier with the infant therein.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a perambulator wherein the body or carrier is so formed as to be capable of limited lengthwise rocking movement when separate from the chassis.

Another object is to provide a perambulator wherein the carrier is so constructed as to render it adaptable as a bath unit provided with means whereby liquid can be readily poured therefrom.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel features of construction, arrangements and combinations of parts set out in the present specification and more particularly pointed out in the claims for novelty following In describing the invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a perambulator embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the perambulator structure in side elevation.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View through the connected ends of the top and bottom frame sections at one corner.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the structure of Figure 3, with a portion of one frame section being in vertical section.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the body or carrier with its waterproof liner in position and the carrier in readiness for use as a bath.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but with the pouring spout of the liner in its discharge position.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to the drawings, in which a complete embodiment of the invention is illustrated, the perambulator frame is shown as being formed of tubular material and constructed in sections. One of such sections consists of identical members i-l positioned at opposite sides of the vehisic and each comprising a medial horizontal part having rigid connection near its ends with the front and rear axles 2 and 3'respectively, and such members being curved upwardly and inwardly, as shown at d, from points outside the axles and then being turned upwardly to provide short front and rear standards 55. The axles are provided with suitable running gear 'I.

The standards 5 are provided with vertical slots 8 near their top ends, all of the slots being of the same length and the slots in the corresponding side standards preferably being opposed to one another.

Positioned within each of the hollow corner standards 5 is a spiral spring 9, suitably fixed at its lower end to a plug [9 positioned near the lower end of the standard and held in position by any suitable means, as for instance by means of a pin l 4 extending through the standard. The springs 9 are for the purpose of affording resilient support for the body of the vehicle and are adapted to resist pressure from above by means which will be described in detail hereinafter.

The top frame section includes identical substantially inverted-U-shaped tubular members [2 positioned at opposite sides of the vehicle with their closed central portions above and extending parallel to the horizontal parts of the members I and their vertical downwardly extending hollow legs I3 spaced correspondingly to the standards 5 and adapted for vertical alignment, and releasable connection, with the respective standards at the front and rear of the vehicle.

The legs l3 of the frame members i2 have rigid tubular endwise extensions Hi therefrom adapted to slidably fit within the respective standards 5 and these tubular extensions are each provided with a horizontal slot 15 adapted, in the assembled condition of the frame sections to register with the respective slots 8 in the said standards. The tubular extensions M may be fixed to the legs [3 in any suitable manner, such as by means of pins 16. 1

Locking bars ll of lesser width and of greater length than the interior diameter of the respective tubular extensions 14 are pivotally mounted near their one ends within the respective tubular extensions on transverse pins l8, for swinging movement from positions wholly within the said tubular extensions, as during the movement of the said tubular extensions into the standards, to exteriorly projecting positions through the registering slots [5 and 8, whereby the said bars are held extended through the presence of the top Walls 19 of the slots 8 above the portions of the locking bars, so as to prevent withdrawal of the said tubular extensions until the locking bars are released by sufiiciently heavy downward pressure against the top frame 22, or other suitable fastening means.

3 section to overcome the resistance of the springs 9 to move the tubular extensions into the standards the required distances to permit of the locking bars being swung into retracted positions lengthwise of, and wholly within the said tubular extensions. The locking bars are out obliquely from their outer ends to provide cam upper faces to facilitate the movement of the locking bars to and from their locking positions.

It will have been apparent from the foregoing description that in the assembled condition of the frame sections downward movement of the tubular extensions M of the top frame section is yieldingly resisted by the springs 9 and that likewise, any upward movement of any or all of the lower frame section standards will also be resisted by said springs, which are confined 2| which rests on the horizontal parts of said members 12 and is fixed thereto by means of bolts or carrier, supporting frame is considerably longer than the members l2 on which it is carried and extends equi-distant therebeyond and past the running gear at each end of the vehicle, and at points equi-distant from each of its ends is narrowed somewhat and turned upwardly, as shown at 23, whereby to provide a handle 24 at each end of the structure so that the perambulator can be propelled from either end.

25 is the body of the perambulator, which in View of the several uses to which it may be put in the handling of the infant, may be termed the carrier.

The carrier is preferably made of wood, plastic,

or very light metal and comprises flat side walls 26; a wall 28 constituting the ends and bottom and which is slightly rounded lengthwise of the carrier whereby the said carrier when not in position in the per'ambulator frame, may be rocked lengthwise; and a peripheral flange 29 around its top edge.v The portions of the flange at the sides of the carrier are adapted to rest on, and to extend over the respective side of the supporting frame 2! and the end parts of the said flange rest on the inner ends of the handles 24.

The body of the carrier is of the proper width to removably fit between the most widely spaced side of the supporting frame 2|, and in length fits between the shoulders 21 formed by the narrowing of the. said supporting frame to provide the handles 24.

It will be seen that the carrier is securely cradled within the frame 2| with all but its top edge below the level of said frame, so that it is not necessary to lock the carrier to the frame, and it is further apparent that as the peripheral flange 29 extends laterally beyond the supporting frame said flange provides a convenient hand grip whereby the carrier may be lowered into the cradling framework or removed therefrom, or used as a means to lift and carry the carrier in any of its other uses.

The carrier is adequately sprung at four points The body,

a 4 by means of the spring mounted connections between the various legs 13 and the standards 5.

30 is a collapsible top which for purposes of convenience in the placing of the carrier in its supporting frame or, in the removal therefrom, is carried on a pair of arms or rods 3| pivoted respectively at their one ends, as at 32, to the respective side members of the handle 24 at one end of the structure and extending forwardly to substantially the longitudinal centre of the carrier, where they are bent laterally and turned under to provide hooks 33 adapted to be adjusted to embrace the frame members l2 and thus hold down the top at its front end against accidental collapse.

34 is a mattress for use in the carrier 25. This mattress is constructed with a substantially plane top surface and is reduced in thickness from its longitudinal centre to its ends so that its bottom surface will correspond substantially to the shape of the bottom of the carrier, whereby a level body supporting surface will be provided regardless of the rounded shape of the carrier bottom.

The carrier is further provided with a partial liner 35 made of plastic, or other flexible, leakproof material capable of holdin a quantity of water in which the infant may be washed or bathed. The liner is moulded, or otherwise formed, to extend downwardly into and to provide within the carrier, a water receptacle extending from one end of the carrier to a point not far removed from the other end of the carrier. Up to this point the said liner is provided with a peripheral marginal piece 3? adapted to extend around the one end and side edges and over the under face of the carrier flange 29 and formed to grip the said flange. From the aforementioned point the liner is formed to extend upwardly to the level of the top surface of the flange 29, as shown at 36, in a substantially vertical manner to provide the other end wall of the water receptacle, and is then reduced in width from each side to provide a pouring spout of sufficient length to be extended beyond the end of the carrier when it is desired to empty the waterholding liner. As the spout 38 discharges over the end of the carrier it will be seen that the emptying of the liner merely involves tilting the carrier endwise on its rounded bottom.

A strap 39 extends across the carrier and is attachable to the sides of the carrier and provides convenient means for securing the infant within the carrier and also provides means which the child may conveniently grasp.

Due to the novel construction and arrangement of the frame parts and of the carrier a very considerable space is available between the axles and the carrier and this space may be used to carry a basket 39a in which parcels or other articles may be carried.

The uses and advantages of the present invention are varied. The carrier 25 when separate from the chassis may be used as a bed for the infant and may be easily picked up and carried from place to place and, if desired, may be used to gently rock the infant, by simply tilting it backwardly and forwardly lengthwise on its rounded bottom. By simply doubling the mattress backwardly upon itself and placing it upright with the thin edges downwards a back support is provided which will permit of the infant being arranged comfortably in a sittin position. Furthermore, the carrier when equipped with the liner 35 can be used as a bath, from which the water can be readily poured by means of the spout 38. The carrier can be readily incorporated in the perambulator by simply lowering it into its cradlin frame 2| until the flange 29 of the carrier comes to res on the sides of the said frame.

When it is desired to disassemble the structure for compactness it is simply necessary to lift out the carrier after the hooks 33 of the top-carrying rods 3| have been disengaged from the frame members l2 and the top has been raised, and then to apply sufficiently heavy downward pressure on the top frame section to lower the locking bars l! in the slots 8 in the standards 5 until they can be turned upwardly and inwardly on their pivots to positions within the respective standards, upon which the tubular members I 4 can be readily withdrawn from the said standards.

While we have herein shown and described a preferred arrangement, it will be readily understood that changes and modifications therein may be found desirable or essential in meeting the various exigencies of use, and we desire to be understood as reserving the right to make any and all such changes or modifications as may be found desirable or essential in so far as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims when broadly construed.

What we claim is:

1. In a perambulator including front and rear axles and running gear, a lower frame member of tubular construction comprising medial horizontal portions connecting Said front and rear axles at opposite sides of the structure and upwardly turned ends constituting open-ended corner posts, compressible sprin members confined within said corner posts respectively and terminating short of the ends thereof, each said corner post having an elongated vertical slot therethrough near its end, an upper frame member of tubular construction comprising a horizontal carrier supporting frame and legs having parts extending downwardly into the respective corner posts and resting on the springs therein, the said leg parts having vertical slots therein registering with the aforesaid slots in said corner posts, latching fingers pivotally mounted in said vertical slots in said leg parts, said latching fingers swinging downwardly and outwardly through said slots in said leg parts and said corner posts on the movement of said leg parts into said corner posts, and a carrier member removably cradled in said carrier supporting frame.

2. A structure according to claim 1, in which said upper frame member comprises inverted-U- shaped tubular members having straight closed portions extending lengthwise of the structure at opposite sides thereof and legs vertically aligned with the front and rear corner posts at the corresponding sides, downward extensions from said legs entering the corner posts with which they are aligned and supported by said springs respectively, and a horizontally disposed rectangular frame fixed to the respective closed portions of said inverted U-shaped members and projecting therebeyond at each end, said rectangular frame being narrowed from points near their ends whereby are provided a medial carrier support and relatively narrow handles, said handles being inclined upwardly and providing shoulders at each end of said carrier support to prevent movement of the carrier lengthwise.

3. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said latching fingers in their latching positions project exteriorly of said corner posts, and. Wherein the upper edges of said projecting portions are cut away obliquely.

4. In a perambulator including front and rear axles and running gear, a lower frame member of tubular construction comprising medial horizontal portions connecting the front and rear axles at opposite sides of the structure and upwardly turned ends constituting corner posts, vertically compressible springs confined within said corner posts, said springs being restrained at their lower ends against downward movement, an upper frame member comprising legs vertically aligned with the said corner posts respectively and yieldingly supported by said springs, and a horizontally disposed rectangular carrier supporting frame extending beyond said legs at each end of the structure, said carrier supporting frame being of reduced width endwise from points beyond and equi-distant from the front and rear legs whereby relatively narrow handles are provided at the ends of the structure, a carrier having fiat sides and a lengthwise rounded bottom, said carrier having lateral flanges resting on said supporting frame and supporting said body suspended between and on a lower plane than said supporting frame, a folding top, arms disposed at opposite sides of the structure and carrying said top, said arms having pivoted connection at their one ends with one of said handles for swinging movement to bring said top into and out of position above said carrier, and latching means carried by the free ends of said arms detachably engaging the side flanges of said carrier and the carrier supporting frame.

5. A perambulator comprising a lower frame section having a plurality of tubular uprights, compressible springs mounted within said uprights and terminating short of the upper ends thereof, each said upright having an elongated vertical slot therethrough near its upper end, an upper frame member formed with horizontal carrier supporting rails extending lengthwise of the structure at opposite sides thereof and downwardly extending legs entering said tubular uprights respectively, said legs being yieldingly supported by said springs, said legs having vertical slots therein registering with the said slots in said uprights, latching means pivotally mounted in said legs and swinging downwardly and outwardly through said slots in said legs and said uprights in the movement of said legs into said uprights, and a carrier comprising a body having side walls and a longitudinally rounded bottom and ends, said carrier having lateral flanges resting on said rails and holding the body of the carrier suspended between and on a lower plane than said rails.

CHARLES COLLINS. DOROTHY J. COLLINS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS. 

